EDIT] I had originally asked for feedback from owners or on hand users of this board but is now open to all useful comments. I had erroneously thought that there might be more owners of this board, but it is apparent not too many have them or like parsec said, even know/worry that their NB is hot.Like I've mentioned on the forum, I cannot stop gushing about this feature packed and VERY up-to-date micro-ATX motherboard. For $55 usd I realize that it was made for:-mid level users (some gaming on the side?)-Budget level users, either looking for the cheapest alternative (NOT cheapskates) or just plain poor like me.-Looking to squeeze the most from their AMD components with the privilege of using modern tech like USB 3.0, SATA III 6gbps and DDR3. Maybe the only thing missing would be a PCIE 3.0 video slot (hint).-Smaller format users that think that ATX and worse, Extended ATX boards are too anti-ecological (or folks with more nimble hands and fingers).-Have heard of Asrock but haven't given them a shot and decided to do so buying this item. Asrock is the 3rd supplier of motherboards world-wide just after Asus and Gigabyte (have several of these too) after all. There is buzz about the brand for some great things.-Non-overclockers. Quite visibly not sturdy enough for real overclocks (what did you expect for $55 usd anyways?)-Don't mind using a chipset (760g/SB710) that came out in 2008.-Know what 3 + 1 phases in VRM and no heatsinks over the Mosfets really means.and so on.Getting back on track, everything works as advertised altho maybe not with record breaking benchmarks, but very very acceptable, EXCEPT FOR: -------
A VERY HOT TO TOUCH NORTHBRIDGE HEATSINK------This is definitely the hottest NB heatsink of the over a dozen motherboards of all brands that I have had. If you check my profile, I use a very tame Phenom II X6 1035t processor with a 95 degree TDP, not one of the FX 8XXX eight core procs with much higher TDPs. Besides I use an external video card so I have the IGP turned off which resides in the NB.My horse (common) sense dictates that this would be the first part to fail on the motherboard (mosfets are curiously cool in spite of the sparse phases), willing to bet that it might not even last the warranty period or barely reach it.Everyone knows that heat is the worse enemy of any system/component. Tech shops report that the component that fails the most are motherboards. When a mobo fails and is a couple years old, it usually means that its time to send the whole system to the bin and buy updated hardware or a new system.To prevent this from happening on mine (probably voiding my warranty), I modded the northbridge with a bigger complete heatsink (the factory HS is in the shape of an "L" in order to make room for a PCIE add-on card-I don't need any) and screwed a 40mm led fan spinning now at 5,000 rpm (mobo does not regulate the 3 pin PWN header). The new heatsink is still pretty hot but much less than before. I guestimate that it went from 90c to around 70c. I will upload a worklog of this mod if enough people ask for it. In conclusion, I'm trying to find out if I just have bad luck or it is something common-place with this mobo. Oh, for those that might not know what or where the northbridge heatsink is:

I would really appreciate your feedback.Thnx!P.D. As the NB does not have a sensor (or one that is visible), I am only asking for users to take off the cover of your case, reach in and touch the SIDE (not the tops of the fins-too small) of the heatsink. It would be great while running at idle or if not, with the system off but immediately after shutdown. You could use the terms:--warm - not a problem to touch for over 5 sec.--hot - you can notice it and feels somewhat uncomfortable to touch but can hold it 5 sec.--very hot - very uncomfortable or cannot keep finger on more that 5 seconds.If you are leery of sticking your hand in your system, an infrared temperature gun reading would be more than fine. Thnx again!-
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